The national Republican Party released a scathing self-analysis Monday that party leaders hope will be the first step toward returning the GOP to a winning track after its election losses of November.

The report, issued by a Republican National Committee task force, minces no words.

"Public perception of the party is at record lows," the report says. "Young voters are increasingly rolling their eyes at what the party represents, and many minorities wrongly think that Republicans do not like them or want them in the country. When someone rolls their eyes at us, they are not likely to open their ears to us."

In page after page, the reportcompiled over the past several months by five veteran GOP campaign operativesdescribes the party as ideologically ossified, unable to speak to a wider electorate and increasingly seen as representing the rich and the old.

In focus groups, voters who said they had left the Republican Party described the GOP as "scary," "narrow minded," "out of touch," and as the party of "stuffy, old men."

Unless something changes, the report says, "it will be increasingly difficult for Republicans to win another presidential election in the near future."

(SNIP)

The report comes at a moment when Republicans aligned with the tea party and insurgent candidates are arguing that conservatives should reject the guidance of party insiders and consultants, urging that they look instead to the GOP's conservative grass roots for renewal.

This is a **SERIOUSLY** bad report. It appears to take direct aim against conservatives in the Republican Party, and if my read is correct, its conclusions need to be fought against as hard as possible.

Note this reference which is an obvious attack against Mourdock in Indiana and Akin in my state of Missouri: “He also chastised GOP candidates last year who undermined the party's cause with remarks on abortion and rape, saying that many members of the party said “some biologically stupid things” during the campaign.”

I can't speak regarding Mourdock because I don't know the details. With regard to Akin, it's hard to argue that Akin was wrong when he almost immediately apologized for his own comments — but that's not the same as saying that Akin’s views on abortion were wrong. Saying dumb things is not the same as being wrong on the underlying issue of defending babies’ lives.

So do we want to become more Republican?
I think not!
It is time for a new party. The Grand Old Party is just that. OLD
If they believe that they can compete with the party of free stuff, that means they will have to become a party of more free stuff.
I won’t be able to afford it.

7
posted on 03/18/2013 12:05:08 PM PDT
by lucky american
(The Democrats will follow the big "D"even if it means going over a cliff.)

One cold stormy day a Goatherd drove his Goats for shelter into a cave, where a number of Wild Goats had also found their way. The Shepherd wanted to make the Wild Goats part of his flock; so he fed them well. But to his own flock, he gave only just enough food to keep them alive. When the weather cleared, and the Shepherd led the Goats out to feed, the Wild Goats scampered off to the hills.

“Is that the thanks I get for feeding you and treating you so well?” complained the Shepherd.

“Do not expect us to join your flock,” replied one of the Wild Goats. “We know how you would treat us later on, if some strangers should come as we did.”

I have to disagree. It’s time to leave the GOP. The Elites tell us over and over it’s our fault they can’t get elected so lets see how they do when most of the base simply walks away from the progressive wing of the Republican Party.

Stay the course of conservative principles and the masses shall return. True conservatism is not based on relativism but on it’s core values. Relativism’s inevitable collapse is coming sooner than we think.

Sarah is right, don’t pander, lead! Taking polls and using them to calculate how to pander to various demographics is a certain loser.

People really don’t know what they want until they hear something that gives them direction, gives them perspective and inspires them. Most people can’t figure out what they want so they go with a fad or a seeming consensus until they get a sense of what they want. Right now the Roves and Romneys are definitely not what they want. And they don’t particularly want Obama either. So it’s a become a game of fad and fashion, frivolous engagement of meandering views.

And the Stupid Party aka the GOPe is trying to win the beauty contest by wearing what they think the fickle public wants to see. What crap!

Here’s what needs to be said:

“Look we are Republicans! All we want is to get the friggin government to step back and stop trying to take over all of our lives but like dope pushers the democrats are hooking you into their brand of government addiction. You’re selling out when you take what they offering. You’re sellouts! How long is that gonna last?! Is that what you want all your life to be selling out?”

“Look we know you need the EBT and the healthcare and all that; we all need food and doctors! But will give you that and more! And we don’t mean more welfare; we mean a ladder to climb out of the hole they put you in and you volunteered to climb into. Don’t you want to grow strong in yourselves and have some control over your lives? We’ll give you a little but then you got to give back! You got to break the addiction and we’ll help you but we got to work together. We, the Republicans are the adults, the democrats are the pushers. For God’s sakes, and yes we say God a lot, learn how to fish and be free! We’ll teach ya and coach you until you get it.”

It seems like the only thing left for the likes of McConnell, McCain, Hatch, et. al., is to compete to outlast Byrd, Helms, and Thurmond for longevity in the Senate, regardless of what it does to their party.

-PJ

22
posted on 03/18/2013 12:44:14 PM PDT
by Political Junkie Too
(If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)

The dems live and breathe identity politics organized primarily around incessant calls to loot the Treasury to fund vote buying boondoggles. We cannot, and should not try to, beat the dems at this game. The GOP must continue to speak to higher principles and the national interest.

That said, identity politics is undeniably effective because it is immediate, direct, panders to grievances both real and imagined, and dangles money in front of people. The national interest is abstract. It’s a harder sell.

My own view is that we have bring out the sledgehammers and go after the dems on the RESULTS of liberal governance. Call them out, and make it personal. I’d start with education and hang every illiterate student around the neck of democrat pols. Move on to the unemployed and hit on the taxes, regulation and crime that cripple small businesses in urban areas. Etc, ad infinitum.

There is nothing new in this and in theory most republicans agree. But we have to learn to speak with real passion, to be relentless, and to carry the battle onto democrat turf instead of preaching to the choir out in safe GOP precincts. It has to be scorched earth, 24/7. And we have to be willing to call out the liars to their faces.

These candidates should be well rehearsed and ready for these questions.... You know you are going to get them if you are against abortion.

I wish someone would turn the tables on this subject for once and say something like: I realize from your line of questioning that you are pro-abortion.... you know very well that I am against abortion.... but I am not a hardliner and I am willing to compromise.... How about if I agree to vote for the post-uteral abortion of the rapist.... would that help you feel better about my candidacy?

“Republican governors are Americas reformers in chief. They continue to deliver on conservative
promises of reducing the size of government while making peoples lives better. They routinely
win a much larger share of the minority vote than GOP presidential candidates, demonstrating
an appeal that goes beyond the base of the Party.
It is time for Republicans on the federal level to learn from successful Republicans on the state
level...”

But the tenor of the study is just the opposite!

25
posted on 03/18/2013 12:50:56 PM PDT
by mrsmith
(Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat Party!)

This is why this black conservative just doesn’t care anymore. If the GOP is going to become Demo-crap-lite, then let it fall the way of the Whigs. If it takes a situation like Cyprus for the American people to wake up and stop being idiots (many will NEVER wake up), then so be it.

“...Sorry, but our only hope is another party...or another civil war...”

At this point, we’ll probably get both, one the result of the other.

A complicit, subservient RINO party rolling over and taking it up the wazoo from the Dems (”Just so long as they LIKE us”), a split-off Conservative/Liberatarian dominated party that has neither the numbers nor the cohesiveness to win at the national level, and an energized, grinning Democrat/communist party that is entrenched at all levels.

Sounds about right...

31
posted on 03/18/2013 5:50:29 PM PDT
by NFHale
(The Second Amendment - By Any Means Necessary.)

Unlikely in my view. As long as dems can dispense $1.40 of gravy for every $1.00 coming in, they will be unbeatable. Two generations of progressive education, liberal control of the MSM and major internet portals, and massive illegal immigration adds up to a permanent Dem majority.

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